Slog - Comments on Another Viaduct View http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/09/another_viaduct_view If, as I proposed the other day, the Stranger News Team, like the Arts folks, handed out Genius Awards, another candidate in the "Political Group" category (last time I nominated Congress for the New Urbanism) would be Sightline. Check out the latest post on the Viaduct options by Sightline stud Clark Williams-Derry Here's a snippet from Williams-Derry's Viaduct brain: And there are at least 2 other major options out there that voters could consider: shoring up the existing structure, rather than replacing it; and using a combination of street and transit improvements to replace the viaduct's capacity, without rebuilding a... Copyright 2007 Wed, 13 Sep 2006 16:35:49 -0800 Thu, 14 Sep 2006 12:59:20 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by Laurence Ballard It doesn't matter what the people of Seattle want because neither a replacement viaduct or tunnel will ever be built. There are too many agendas, attorneys and lawsuits in the waiting. This is the city that never met a challenge it couldn't further discuss. Prediction: in 10 - 15 years the current structure will be gone, with adjustments to the surface grid and existing traffic corridors as a replacement. Olympia will be busy building a multi-lane replacement for the 520 bridge.

]]> Laurence Ballard http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/09/another_viaduct_view#c462502 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/09/another_viaduct_view#c462502 Politics Wed, 13 Sep 2006 16:59:16 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle Noone ever considers my alternative: build a 10-story tall monorail, and then suspend the existing monorail from it, with lots of balloons to hold it up, and duct tape.

Lots of duct tape.

Hey, at least then you'll be able to grab onto a balloon when the earthquake hits.

But let's talk about it until 2050, shall we?

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/09/another_viaduct_view#c462601 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/09/another_viaduct_view#c462601 Politics Wed, 13 Sep 2006 17:22:24 -0800 Comment by golob Cynically, I think the next earthquake (it'll only take a high-five) will settle this decision. When the AWV comes crashing down, it'll be replaced with most likely nothing.

Fine by me. I'd just like to tear it down rather than crush commuters.

]]> golob http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/09/another_viaduct_view#c462612 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/09/another_viaduct_view#c462612 Politics Wed, 13 Sep 2006 17:37:49 -0800 Comment by Aexia No one ever considers MY alternative plan:

Build a monorail from Rick's in Lake City through the Sands to Showgirls downtown and call it the Pink Line. 15 miles of titties!

And the funny thing is that would actually be a pretty good route.

]]> Aexia http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/09/another_viaduct_view#c462626 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/09/another_viaduct_view#c462626 Politics Wed, 13 Sep 2006 17:51:14 -0800 Comment by Gomez Well, at least there's some sort of an outline for a meantime no-viaduct plan on the table.

I'd still like to see some specifics, and perhaps a dedication to an effort to advertise to the public the merits of transit options (the one thing cities never seem to do, and then we wonder why people hate the bus), before I can get anywhere near the no-viaduct bandwagon.

]]> Gomez http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/09/another_viaduct_view#c462656 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/09/another_viaduct_view#c462656 Politics Wed, 13 Sep 2006 19:20:56 -0800 Comment by herethere

Ahhh, isn't the second option very similar to what the People's Waterfront Coalition has been working on for a couple of years now?

]]> herethere http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/09/another_viaduct_view#c462664 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/09/another_viaduct_view#c462664 Politics Wed, 13 Sep 2006 19:28:22 -0800 Comment by Princess Caroline Whatever happened to this very reasonable proposal:

http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=earlbell26&date=20060726&query=earl+bell

]]> Princess Caroline http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/09/another_viaduct_view#c462676 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/09/another_viaduct_view#c462676 Politics Wed, 13 Sep 2006 19:47:26 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle I like Aexia's plan.

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/09/another_viaduct_view#c462741 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/09/another_viaduct_view#c462741 Politics Wed, 13 Sep 2006 22:48:16 -0800 Comment by eddiew the L. Ballard comment seems probable; the "pray it stays up" option will be choosen by default. (are you the actor?). SR-520 may be at greater risk.

as I have posted here before and written the Council and WSDOT, the four-lane bypass tunnel should be affordable with the funds on hand and would have all the urban design benefits of the unaffordable six-lane tunnel. it would have some surface improvements too. dynamic tolling and ramps between Western and Elliott avenues could be added; a signal may have to added southbound at intersection of Elliott Avenue on ramp and southbound lanes. there are several signals on East Marginal Way (SR-99); we need not have a 70 m.p.h. freeway on the waterfront; are we concerned about CO2 and global warming or not?

the demand for through trips would be reduced by dynamic tolling; the law of demand cannot be repealed.

Seattle learned this in the 1970s with WPPS; higher electric rates reduced demand and the need for nuclear power plants. dynamic tolling of limited access highways would reduce the demand for sprawl-inducing capacity.

the elevated rebuild is unacceptable and would be the big ugly.

]]> eddiew http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/09/another_viaduct_view#c463137 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/09/another_viaduct_view#c463137 Politics Thu, 14 Sep 2006 12:31:06 -0800 Comment by Princess Caroline "the elevated rebuild is unacceptable and would be the big ugly."

Utter b.s.

Go to my link above.


]]> Princess Caroline http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/09/another_viaduct_view#c463148 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/09/another_viaduct_view#c463148 Politics Thu, 14 Sep 2006 12:59:20 -0800